Shuttle-threading mechanism.



W. L. BARRELL.

SHUTTLE THBEADING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION HLED SEPT.26,1913.

1 ,2; 1 0,, 5 Patented J gm. 2, 1917.

4 SHEETLSSHEET I.

w. L. BARRELL.

SHUTTLE THREADING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.26. 1913.

Patented Jan. 2, 1917.

4 SHETSSHEET 2.

m: mmms PETERS co. I'NoYu umou mswvarmv, n, c

W. L. BARRELL.

SHUTTLE THREADING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION F|LED.SPT.26. 1913.

Patented J an. 2, 1917.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

mr rmnR/s PETERS co. wnumuma. wAsnmcmu, nv c W. L. BARRELL.

SHUTTLE THREADING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 26. 1913 4 SHEETS--SHEET 4- Patented J an; .2, 1917.

WILLIAM L. BARRELL', or LAWRENCE, MASSACHUSETTS.

SHUTTLE-THBEADING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent. 7

Patented Jan. 2, 1917.

Application filed. September 26, 1913. Serial No. 791,971.

To all whom it may concern Be it known thatl, WILLIAM L. BARRELL, a citizen of the United States and resident of Lawrence, in the county of Essex and State of l /lassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shuttle- Threading Mechanisms, of which the following is a soecification.

This invention relates to mechanism for threading shuttles for looms, and is adapted to be used in combination with a loom and bobbin magazine.

In my copending application, Serial Number 761,689, filed April 17, 1913, I have shown and described a weft-replenishing loom and a bobbin magazine in combina tion therewith.

The present invention is adapted to be used as an improvement on the combination set forth in my aforesaid copending application.

Of the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents an end elevation of a portion of the left-hand end of a loom and bobbin magazine, and includes in vertical sect-ion the lay and principal parts of the shuttle box on the lay. Fig. 2 represents a perspective view of a device adapted to transfer a full bobbin from the magazine into a spent shuttle, the said device having a member for actuating the shuttle-threading mechanism. Fig. 3 represents a front elevation of the elements shown at the right of Fig. 1. Fig. i represents a top plan view, partly in section, of the support on which the spent shuttle rests while receiving a full bobbin from the magazine. This figure also includes means for retaining the shuttle on itssupport. Fig. 5 represents an end elevation of the lower portion of the bobbin magazine and the shuttle support for supporting the shuttle in loading position. This figure includes mechanism for acting upon the bobbin thread, which mechanism is in another position than that shown by Fig. 1. Fig. 6 represents a vertical section through the shuttle support'and includes a shuttle in sec tion thereon and means for placing the bobbin thread in the throat of the shuttle. Fig. 7 represents a vertical section through the said shuttle support and includes a device for retaining the shuttle thereon in loading position. Fig. 8 represents a perspective view, as seen from the rear, of the support which supports the shuttle in loading position, all the mechanism being detached from said support. Fig. 9 represents a vertical section in substantially the same vertical plane as Fig. 6, but on a larger scale than Fig. 6, showing the movable parts in different positions than the positions shown by Fig. 6. Fig. 10 represents a rear elevation of the elements included in Fig. 9. Fig. 11 represents a top plan view of a shuttle and a device which engages the bobbin thread while the shuttle is being transferred from loading position to the shuttle box on the lay, the shuttle being shown in another position by dotted lines to illustrate the manner in which the bobbin thread is arranged in the throat of the shuttle by the thread-engaging device. Fig. 12 represents a front elevation of the shuttle and a vertical section of the thread-engaging device in the same relative position as that indicated by solid lines in Fig. 11.

Before proceeding to a detailed description of the present shuttle-threading mechanism, I will briefly describe the operation of the loom and the operation of the bobbin magazine, which are more fully described in my copending application aforesaid, Serial Number 7 61,689.

The loom itself, without reference to the bobbin magazine, is substantially the same as that known as the Stafford loom and manufactured by the Stafford Company, of Readville, Massachusetts. This loom has mechanism which automatically stops the weaving operations whenever the filling is spent or broken, mechanism which automatically ejects the spent shuttle from the shuttle box of the lay, mechanism which automatically replaces the spent shuttle with a shuttle containing a'full bobbin, and mechanism which automatically sets the loom in operation again for weaving. In my aforesaid copending application, Serial Number 761,689, I have shown a bobbin magazine of well-known construction and operation, in combination with a loom such as I have briefly described above. In this present application I have also shown such a magazine, which is used as follows, both in this present application and in my aforesaid copending application. A spent shuttle is supported outside the shuttle box of the lay and in cooperative relation to the bobbin magazine for loading. While one shuttle is in loading position another, shuttle is in the shuttle box for weaving, and two shuttles are all that is necessary. These two shuttles is at rest.

are interchanged by automatic mechanism whereby the spent shuttle is transferred from the shuttle box of the lay to loading position adjacent the bobbin magazine, and

a loaded shuttle is transferred from the said loading position into the shuttle box on the becomes necessary to replenish the filling,

the aforesaid exchange of shuttles being ef-, footed as often as necessary. In all these re-' spects the loom, bobbin magazine and shuttle-transferring mechanism are substantially the same as in my copending application aforesaid, Serial Number 761,689.

My present invention is adapted to be used, in conjunction with shuttledoading mechanism and shuttle-exchanging mechanism such as I have hereinbefore described, and is adapted to effect the threading of the full shuttle before the same is placed in the shuttle box'of the lay. T will now proceed to a more complete description of the shuttle-transferring means, the'bobbin magazine, the loading means, and to a description of my present invention.

g The same reference characters indicate the same parts wherever they occur.

In Fi s. 1, 3. and 4, the frame of a'loom such as I have briefly described is indicated at. 15, and the breast beam thereof is indicated at 16. The loom includes the usual lay 17 on which are mounted the usual elements which constitute the shuttle'box, said elements comprising a member 18 which may or may not be a binder, and a movable shuttle-box front l9.- The front 19, as usual, is carried by one or more arms 20 which swing about a fulcrum 21 and which are actuated by suitable mechanism including a rod 21 by which it is lifted sufficiently to enable the shuttles to pass under it when an exchange of shuttles is effected. The mechanism for this purpose is fully shown and described in my copending application aforesaid. Fig. 1 includes also an ejector 22 which is substantially the same as that shown and described in my copending application. This ejector is automatically 0perated by suitable mechanism (not shown) to eject the shuttle laterally from the shuttle box toward the front of the loom. The ejected shuttle is thus transferred to a receiver 23 by which the shuttle is lifted a sufficient distance to enable a loaded shuttle to passnnder'it during the operation of being transferred from loading position to the shuttle box on the lay, by a carrier hereinafter described. The receiver 23 and the said carrier are both substantially the same as those shown'and described in my copending application.

The carrier, which is indicated at 24 in Figs. 1 and 3, moves in an arc whichv is approximately concentric with relation to the arc of movement of the lay. As shown 'by Figs. 1 and 3, the carrier is at its extreme forward position, andit is movable toward the lay for the purpose of carrying a loaded shuttle to the shuttle box of the lay,

vlVhile the carrier is adjacent the lay, the receiver 23, which has received the spent shuttleand been lifted to leave a clear path for the carrier and loaded shuttle, descends and deposits the spent shuttle upon the carrier, whereupon the carrier then moves'in the opposite direction to transfer the spent shuttle to a stationary shuttle support or box 25 upon which the spent shuttle is supported for loading, The carrier 24 continues to move forwardly after depositing the spent shuttle upon the support 25, and

finally stops at the position shown by Figs.

1 and 3. These operations are all more fully described in my copending application 761,689. r

The stationary box or support which supports the shuttle for loading is shown best by Fig. 8. When the shuttle is in loading position its end portions rest upon support ing surfaces 26, the support being cut away to leave a sufficient gap 27 between the surfaces 26 'to permit the downward discharge of a spent bobbin from the bottom of the shuttle and to also permit the shuttle carrier 24 to pass without obstruction. The supporting element 25, as shown by Figs. 3 and 4, is mounted upon and bolted to the breast beam 16 and is formed with a standard 28 which constitutes a mounting for the bobbin magazine.

The bobbin magazine, which is of wellknown construction and operation, comprises a central spindle 29 and a rotatable element which is indicated as a whole at 30 in Fig. 3. This rotatable element includes a bell-shaped member 31 whose function is to hold the bobbin threads 00 in the desired position for threading the shuttles. The rim of the zine by a device which transfers them one by one into the shuttles. A well-known loader for this purpose is shown detached by Fig. 2 and is included in Figs. 1, 3 and 9.

This device is indicated as a whole at 33, and it is in the form of a bell-crank lever and is mounted on a spindle 34. This spindle is affixed to the stationary frame 35 of the magazine.

The rotatable element of-the magazine is rotated step by step by upward movement of the loader and well-known ratchet de vices which need not be described. The effect of this step-by-step rotation is to carry the full bobbins w successively into position for loading between the loader and the shuttle a which is upon the support 25, as shown by Fig. 1. The loader is provided with anarm 36 which has pin-and-slot connection 37 with an operating lever 38 whose fulcrum is indicated at 39. A spring 40 (Fig. 3) normally holds the loader in the position shown and returns the loader to the said position after the loader has been actuated to force a bobbin downwardly out of the magazine and into the shuttle a.

The shuttles a and a and the bobbins a: are provided with devices which cooperate to hold the bobbins in the shuttles. As

these devices are well known and are commonly used with magazines of this type, it will not be necessary to illustrate or describe such details. Each shuttle has a bobbin cavity (1. and a throat a which conducts the bobbin thread from the bobbin cavity. The throat a is What I term an open throat; that is to say, it is open throughout its length to permit lateral insertion of the bobbin thread into it, and it is to be distinguished from a throat which is closer excepting at its ends and which necessitates passing the loose end of bobbin thread longitudinally through it. It is to be understood, therefore, that the phrase open throat as used in the appended claims is intended to be construed as a throat which is open at its side for the lateral insertion of a thread. This throat has an enlarged cavity 00 which is open at the upper side of the shuttle and into which a thread engaging device 41 is moved to push the bobbin thread x into the throat. This thread-engaging device 41 is one of the novelties of my present invention. As shown by Figs. 6, 9 and 10, the device 41 is arranged in bearings afforded by a bracket 42. The member 41 is in the form of a plunger, and it is movable vertically. It is normally raised by a spring 43. Its lower end is provided with a notch or recess, as clearly shown by Figs. 6 and 9, for the purpose of adjusting the bobbin thread laterally so that the thread will enter the throat of the shuttle when it is depressed by the device 41. When the bobbins as are arranged in the magazine, the loose ends of their threads m are led around the rim of the bell-shaped member 31 and arewound about or otherwise secured to a weft-end holder 44. (See Figs. 1 to 5.) The threads are arranged in the notches 32, and the stretches which extend from the bobbins to the notches 32 are substantially parallel with relation to the axis of the magazine. As each bobbin arrives at its preliminary loading position prior to being transferred from the magazine into the shuttle, the aforesaid parallel stretch of the bobbin thread takes a position in the path of the threading device 41. I utilize the loading movement of the loader to effect the threading movement of the threading device, with the result that the loading operation and threading operation are performed simultaneously.

As shown by Figs. 2 and 9, the loader 33 carries a finger 45. When the loader is actuated to transfer a. bobbin from the magazine into the shuttle, the finger 45 engages and depresses a lever 46 whose fulcrum is indicated at 47. This lever engages the upper side of a 111g 48 on the threading device 41. If prior to the depression of the threading device the bobbin thread is not in'the necessary relation to the throat (I? of the shuttle, the notch at the lower end of the threading device adjusts the thread so that the thread will surely enter the throat of the shuttle. The threading device is depressed a considerable distance into the cavity a of the shuttle as shown by Fig. 9, thus carrying the bobbin thread well into the throat. The downward movement of the loader 33 transfers a full bobbin from the magazine into the shuttle and forces the spent bobbin through the bottom of the shuttle and through the gap 27 of the shuttle support. (See Fig. 8). The loader then returns without undue delay to its initial raised position, and concurrently therewith the magazine is advanced one step to place the next bobbin w in preliminary loading position. By this movement of the magazine the thread m of the bobbin now in the shuttle is drawn laterally into the throat a? to a greater extent. As the threading device 41 is normally raised by the spring 43, the threading device would rise simultaneously with the loader if it were not otherwise held in its depressed position. I prefer to have the threading device remain in its depressed position until such time as it becomes necessary to effect the next exchan e of shuttles,

in order that there may be no possibility of withdrawing the bobbin thread laterally out of the throat of the shuttle. For this purpose I provide a retaining device which, as shown best by Fig. 9, comprises a latch 50 and a stop 51 for coacting therewith. The latch 50 is pivotally mounted upon the lever 46, and its lower end is held against the stop 51 by a spring 52. When the threading device is depressed, the latch slides upon the stop '51 and is held in contact with the stop by the spring 52, whereby the latch is automatically moved into retaining position when the threading device is fully depressed. In'order to release the threading device 3:, when an exchange of shuttles becomes necessary, I provide means for disengaging the latch 50 from the stop 51. The means for as shown by solid lines inFig. 5. When the shuttle carrier moves toward the front of the loom after depositing an empty shuttle uponthe support 25 it moves the weightedarm to the position shown in Fig. 1 and by dotted lines in Fig. 5. Consequently, when the carrier moves from the front of the loom toward the support 25 to transfer a filled shuttle to the shuttle box of the lay, the weighted arm 56 moves by gravity to its normal vertical position, thus causing the releasing member53 to release the latch 50 from the stop 51 before the shuttle carrier engages the filled shuttle. The spring 43 is thus permitted to raise the threading device 41 out of the shuttle in due time to avoid interference with the transferring of the shuttle.

taining idevices embody some new structural details. They are mounted upon pivots 59 and have pin-andslot connection with arms 60 which are carried bysleeves 61. These sleevesare loosely mounted upon the rockshaft 54 and are operatively connected with the'rockshaft by helical springs 62. 'One end of each spring is engaged with an arm 60 and the other end is engaged with a collar 63 afiixed to the rockshaft. This yielding connection between the rockshaft and the members 58 is sufficient to move said members to and from shuttle-em gaging position, but permits said rockshaft to continue moving after the movement of the retaining members is arrested by the shuttle.

Although the threading device 41 is effective for pushing the bobbin thread laterally into the throat of the shuttle, I nevertheless have'provided an additional devlce which supplements the threading operation extends from the shuttle to the bell-shaped member 31. When the magazine is advanced after a loading operation, the thread :12 ofthe bobbin which has just been transferred to the shuttle is carried into the path of movement of the hooked member 64. (SeeF'ig. 11). When theshuttle carrier moves from the position shown by Fig. 1 inthe direction of the lay, the hooked end of the member 64 is swung downwardly to V the position shown by Fig. 5, this movement of the member 64 being concurrent with the movement of the wei hted arm 56 to its normal vertical position. This movement 1s imparted to the member 64 by an arm 66 which is affixed to the rockshaft 54 and which has suitable pin-and-slot connection with the member 64. The thread-engaging portion of the hook descends below the top of the shuttle, and draws the bobbin thread 00 downwardly from the position shown by Fig. 3 to the position shown by Fig. 5. The thread is thus moved still farther into the throat of the shuttle. Fig. 12 shows in what manner the member 64 depresses the thread into the throat of the shuttle. The member 64 remains in this position while the shuttle is being transferred to the lay, and during the transferring operation the stretch of thread between the shuttle and the member 64 is drawn still farther into the throat of the shuttle because of the varying angle. of

the thread. Before the shuttle is placed in thev shuttle boX of the lay, the -.tangent stretch of bobbin thread is so nearly at right angles to the axis of the shuttle that the shuttle is, to all intents and purposes, fully threaded for weaving, the thread at this time issuing from the throat a not at the top of the shuttle but at the side of the shuttle, from which it issues during the operation of weaving.

The position of the parts in Fig. 5 indicates that a shuttle has just been transferred to the shuttle box of the lay and that the shuttle carrier is adjacent the lay, the hook 64 being depressed, the bobbin thread extending therefrom in the direction of the lay, and the shuttle-retaining members 58 being depressed to receive a spent shuttle which will be brought back by the shuttle carrier. When the shuttle carrier recedes from the lay with the spent shuttle, it'first deposits the shuttle on the support 25 and its operative position,

then actuates the weighted arm 56 which raises the shuttle-retaining members 58 into shuttle-retaining position, raises the thread hook 64, and returns the releasing member 53 to its initial position to enable the catch to cooperate with the stop 51 when the catch is next depressed. During these operations the shuttle-box front 19 is dropped to and when the parts are in the position shown by Fig. 1 the loom is automatically set in operation for weaving and the loader 33 is actuated to transfer a full bobbin from the magazine into the shuttle on the support 25. y

1 claim:

1. In weit-replenishing loom, the combination with the shuttle box of the lay, a shuttle support other than the lay, means for inserting a full bobbin into a shuttle on said support, and means for interchanging a filled shuttle on said support and a spent shuttle in said shuttle box; of a thread-en gaging device arranged to move the bobbin thread laterally into the throat of the shut tle on said support, and means for causing said device to hold the bobbin thread in said throat while the other shuttle is operating.

2. In a weft-replenishing loom, the combination with the shuttle box of the lay, a shuttle support other than the lay, means for inserting a full bobbin into a shuttle on said support, and means for interchanging a filled shuttle on said support and a spent shuttle in said shuttle box; of a thread-engaging device arranged to move into the throat of a shuttle on said support to move the bobbin thread laterally into said throat, and means for causing said device to remain in said throat while the other shuttle is op erating.

3. In a weft-replenishing loom, the combination with the shuttle box of the lay, a shuttle support other than the lay, means for inserting a full bobbin into a shuttle on said support, and means for interchanging a filled shuttle on said support and a spent Copies of this patent may be obtained for changing of shuttles is necessary,

shuttle in said shuttle box; of a thread-engaging device arranged to move the bobbin thread laterally into the throat of a shuttle on said support, means for holding said device in said throat while the other shuttle is operating, and means for causing said device to move out of said throat when an interchanging of shuttles is necessary.

4:. In a weft-replenishing loom, the combination with the shuttle box of the lay, a shuttle support other than the lay, means for inserting a full bobbin into a shuttle on said support, and means for interchanging a filled shuttle on said support and a spent shuttle in said shuttle box; of a thread-engaging device arranged to move the bobbin thread laterally into the throat of a shuttle onsaid support, means for locking said device in said throat while the other shuttle is operating, means for actuating said locking means to release said device when an interand a spring arranged to retract said device from the throat of the shuttle.

5. The combination with the shuttle box of a shuttle-changing loom, of means arranged to support a shuttle apart from such shuttle box, means arranged to put a filled bobbin into the shuttle on said support, means arranged to move the bobbin thread into the throat of the shuttle on said support, means arranged to lock said threadmoving means to keep the thread in the throat while the loom is weaving with another shuttle, means arranged to release said thread-moving means when new filling is required for weaving, and means arranged to interchange the threaded shuttle on said 1Zupport and the spent shuttle in'said shuttle In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WVILLIAM L. BARRELL.

Witnesses ROBERT L. TONNEE, PETER W. Pnzzn'rrr.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). G. 

